Residents try to preserve land

Published 8:00 pm, Thursday, November 1, 2007

The Lake Waubeeka Association, a group of 261 homeowners, has been nominated by the state to receive a grant from the Forest Legacy Program run by the federal Forest Service.

Some 600 acres of forest land would be preserved if Lake Waubeeka's homeowners receive the grant.

Lake Waubeeka is a gated lake community founded by a group of New York City firefighters in the 1950s, said Herbert Krate, a member of the Lake Waubeeka Association's board of directors.

It's a private enclave of former summer homes nestled near the Ridgefield border that has slowly added more forest land to its holdings over the years while keeping a tight lid on development.

"The land would be worth much more money if we developed it, but that has not been our desire over the years," Krate said. "The homes are fairly modest by today's standards, but we're fairly self-sufficient. We have our own water system, we have fire hydrants throughout the community, which is unheard of for a private community. It's quite a place."

Krate said the association is hoping for a grant of some $6 million. However, he was not aware of the exact number requested on behalf of his group.

The money would go to the homeowners' association, which would in turn give up development rights to the land, Krate said.

Access to the land would still be controlled by the homeowners' association, but Krate said there have been discussions to allow hiking trails on a portion of the land, connecting it to the Ives Trail.

The Forest Legacy Program doled out more than $65 million this year to 31 projects that will preserve private forests from development.

The homeowners will find out some time next year whether Lake Waubeeka will receive the grant.

"They've cleared a major first hurdle just getting in line for that grant," said Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton. "It fits into our larger plan to preserve open space in Danbury."